Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/a

This Proto-Ryukyuan entry contains reconstructed words and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Ryukyuan

Reconstruction

According to Thorpe (1983), the daughter languages show variation in the use of this pronoun. Almost all daughter languages lost this pronoun except for Ōgami and Yonaguni, where the latter uses it as a singular.

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *a (“I”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /a/

Pronoun

*a

I

Declension

Nominative *ara, genitive *wa.

Derived terms

*ara
- Southern Ryukyuan:
  - Miyako:
    Ōgami: 吾ー (あらー, arā, topic) (< *ara wa)
*anu
- Southern Ryukyuan:
  - Miyako:
    Irabu: 吾 (あぬ, anu)
    Ōgami: 吾 (あぬ, anu)
  - Yonaguni: 吾 (あぬ, anu)